Cal vs SMU 11/30/24 Game Information

Cal vs SMU Preview

California (6-5, 2-5 in ACC) heads to Big D on Saturday afternoon to face SMU (10-1, 7-0 in ACC) to face the Mustangs, a team nobody wants to play right about now. QB Kevin Jennings (2,521 passing yards, 17 TD, 7 Interceptions) and SMU are currently seeded No.10 and would play Notre Dame in a First Round game of the College Football Playoff, but a lot will be happening between now and the December 20 kick off of the first game of this inaugural 12-team College Football tournament. Both teams won in Week 13 with the Golden Bears beating eternal rivals Stanford in Berkley (24-21) and the Mustangs rushing over Virginia on the Road (33-7). SMU has now won 8 games in a row after losing to BYU in Week 3 (18-15).

Cal Finding Life in ACC Just as Hard as the Pac-12

Cal (6-5-0 ATS, 5-6-0 O/U) has won 3 of its last 4 games, but before that, QB Fernando Mendoza (3,004 passing yards, 16 TD, 6 Interceptions) and the Golden Bears (+408 Moneyline) lost 4 in a row (FSU, MIA, PITT, NC STATE) after starting the season off 3-0. The Golden Bears rank No. 21 in Passing Yards (276.1 pg), No.. 49 in Points Per Game (31.2), and No. 29 in Points Against Per Game (20.7), so this team has had a very solid year, with a QB who has thrown for over 3,000 yards, but all of that Travel, the 4-game losing streak, and the new ACC schedule sort of did this team in. At least they are Bowl eligible as they deserve to be.

Cal Betting Trends

• Cal is a profitable 3-1 ATS on the Road this season
• The Over is 3-1-1 in the Golden Bears last 5 games 
• The Golden Bears have played SMU once (Sept. 21, 1957)
• SMU won that only meeting, 13-6 before the Over/Under was invented 
• Cal’s played 2 California teams (SDSU, STAN), 2 Florida teams (MIA, FSU)

SMU Can Improve CFP Resume With a Victory Here

Southern Methodist (7-4-0 ATS, 7-4-0 O/U) has been a great team to bet on and a great team to take the Over on when they have played this season. The Mustangs have only played SMU once and will have to get used to life in the Power 4 AAC, just like opponent Cal is doing. Besides Jennings, the Mustangs offense is powered by RB Brashard Smith (1,089 rushing yards) and WR Roderick Dawson Jr. (460 receiving yards). SMU (-557 Moneyline) ranks a respectable No. 7 in Points Per game (40.4), No. 37 in Rushing Yards Per Game (183.6), and No. 33 in Passing Yards Per game (260.6). The defense has also been pretty damn good, allowing just 21.0 ppg heading in here on Saturday afternoon.

SMU Betting Trends

• SMU has won 10 of its last 11 SU
• The Over is 5-1 in SMU’s 6 Home games this season
• The Over is 3-1 in the last 4 Mustangs games
• The Mustangs are 7-3-0 ATS in their last 10 overall
• The Over is 7-3 in the last 10 SMU games
• SMU went a perfect 4-0 on the Road this Regular Season 

Cal vs SMU Pick and Prediction

This Cal vs SMU prediction and free NCAAF pick is to back the Home team in a position to make its lot in the CFP a little bit better and maybe flirt with a Bye in the First Round. The Mustangs have already clinched a spot in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday, December 7 (ABC, 8 EST/7 CST/5 PST) and we will have a free preview of it here for you at Tony’s Picks. Miami (Florida) can clinch a spot to meet SMU in that game with a win over Syracuse this Week 14, but if the Orange upset the Hurricanes, Clemson would then go to that game. What can Orange do for you? Here in Week 14 in Dallas, expect the Mustangs to be running like thoroughbreds and score their obligatory 40 while Cal puts around 20 on the board.

Kevin’s Pick: SMU -13 (BetRivers)